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Chapter 1, Using GPIB
Getting Started
• Guideline #4. Use single quotes and spaces properly.
The syntax diagrams in Chapter 4, “GPIB Commands,” show where single quotes
are needed and where spaces are needed.
Example
OUTPUT 714;"DISP<space>AFAN"
OUTPUT 714;"AFAN:DEMP<space>’Off’"
Improper use of single quotes and spaces will cause,
HP-IB Error:-103 Invalid Separator
• Guideline #5. Ensure that settable fields are active by using the STATe ON command.
When making settings to fields that can be turned OFF with the STATe ON/OFF
command (refer to the Chapter 4, “GPIB Commands,”), make sure the STATe is ON
if the program uses that field. Note that if the STATe is OFF, just setting a numeric
value in the field will not change the STATe to ON. This is different than front-panel
operation whereby the process of selecting the field and entering a value automatically
sets the STATe to ON. Programmatically, fields must be explicitly set to the ON state if
they are in the OFF state.
For example, the following command line would set a new AMPS ENCoder SAT tone
deviation and then turn on the SAT tone (note the use of the ; to back up one level in
the command hierarchy so that more than one command can be executed in a single
line):
Example
OUTPUT 714;"ENC:AMPS:SAT:FM 2.1 KHZ;FM:STAT ON"
To just turn on the SAT tone without changing the current setting the following
commands would be used:
OUTPUT 714;"ENC:AMPS:SAT:FM:STAT ON"